CURRENT AFFAIRS: DAYS
World Day of Remembrance for Road Traffic Victims
- The World Day of Remembrance for Road Traffic Victims takes place on the third Sunday in November every year. This year it falls on Nov 15th .
- The theme for WDoR in 2020 is “First Responders”, recognizing the selfless men and women who rescue, care for and support victims of road trauma
National Epilepsy Day :November 17
- Every year, the National Epilepsy Day is celebrated on November 17. The day is celebrated to create awareness about epilepsy.
- Epilepsy is a chronic brain disorder. It results in recurrent fits or seizures. The seizures occur due to sudden and excessive discharges occurring in brain cells or neurons. The disease can be diagnosed only after the person has had at least one seizure. Mostly epilepsy occurs in patients who are over the age of 65 and in children.
- According to the World Health Organization, around 50 million people in the world are suffering from epilepsy. Out of them 80% are from developing countries. The disease is curable. However, most of the epileptic patients in developing countries do not receive proper treatment. International Epilepsy Day: Every year 2nd Monday of February.
CURRENT AFFAIRS: NATIONAL
Govt disbursed over Rs 42,700 crore to 20.6 lakh ex-servicemen under OROP in 5 years
- The central government has disbursed more than Rs 42,700 crore to 6 lakh retired defence personnel under the One Rank One Pension (OROP) scheme, which was notified five years ago.
- Under the OROP scheme, uniform pension is paid to defence personnel who retire in the same rank with the same length of service, irrespective of their date of retirement.
- The yearly recurring expenditure on account of OROP is about Rs 7,123 crore and for about six years, starting from July 1, 2014, the total recurring expenditure worked out to approximately Rs 42,740 crore.
- The OROP was implemented to bridge the gap between the pensions of current and past ex-servicemen at periodic intervals.
- Before OROP, ex-servicemen used to get pensions as per the Pay Commission’s recommendations of the time when they had retired.
- The armed forces personnel who retired by June 30, 2014, are covered under the OROP scheme.
About OROP
- OROPimplies that uniform pension be paid to the Armed Forces Personnel retiring in the same rank with the same length of service irrespective of their date of retirement and any future enhancement in the rates of pension to be automatically passed on to the past pensioners.
- Implemented on: 07.11.2015
MoHFW launches three-month campaign to check childhood pneumonia deaths
- The Union Ministry of Family Welfare (MoHFW) launched a three-month campaign to focus on awareness generation and early intervention with regard to childhood pneumonia, enabling caregivers across the country to identify critical symptoms at earlier stages and trigger prompt care-seeking with qualified providers.
- The initiative targets to reduce less than five pneumonia deaths, per a 1000 live births, to less than three deaths by 2025 through the accelerated SAANS (Social Action and Awareness to Neutralise Pneumonia Successfully) initiative.
- Launched last year, the SAANS campaign complements the national childhood pneumonia management guidelines through a three-pronged approach to protect, prevent and treat pneumonia among children.
- Save the Children, the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) and the Clinton Health Access Initiative (CHAI) have also partnered with the MoHFW in order to accentuate efforts to alleviate the burden of pneumonia on the country.
About MoHFW
- Minister of Science and Technology, Minister of Health and Family Welfare and Minister of Earth Sciences: Harsh Vardhan
- Constituency: Chandni Chowk, New Delhi
Govt expands scope of PM-KUSUM for harnessing solar energy by farmers
- The selected renewable power generator (RPG) shall commission the solar power plant within twelve months from date of issuance of Letter of Award (LoA), it added.
- Moreover, there shall be no penalty on RPG for shortfall in solar power generation from minimum prescribed Capacity Utilization Factor.
- As per the amendments, now MNRE will retain 33% of eligible service charges for nationwide Information, Education and Communication (IEC) activities.
- The order mentions that the Ministry may release 50% of eligible service charges for the sanctioned quantity after placement of LoA for preparatory activities.
- For solar pumps to be set up and used by water user associations/farmer producer organisations/primary agriculture credit societies or for cluster based irrigation system, the central financial assistance (CFA) will be allowed for solar pump capacity of higher than 7.5 HP considering up to 5 HP capacity for each individual in the group.
- During implementation it has been observed that these manufacturers lack workforce in the field and are dependent on local integrators for this purpose, which has caused delay in installation of solar pumps, the statement stated.
- The order further says that quantity equivalent to 10 per cent of total quantity under a particular category of pumps of a cluster will be allocated to the lowest bidder and balance will be kept on market mode for all selected bidders including the lowest bidder.
CURRENT AFFAIRS: INTERNATIONAL
Japan & Australia sign landmark defence deal to counter China’s growing influence in South China Sea
- Japanese Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga and his Australian counterpart Scott Morrison have signed a landmark defence deal in a bid to counter China’s growing influence in the South China Sea and over the Pacific island nations.
- Reciprocal Access Agreement (RAA) comes weeks after foreign ministers of the Quad alliance, which includes the US and India, met in Tokyo. The pact allows Japanese and Australian troops to visit each other’s countries and conduct training and joint operations. Australian Prime Minister stated that the treaty will strengthen their security ties and facilitate cooperation between defence forces.
- The joint statement stated, the two sides also agreed on the need for a framework to allow Japanese military to protect Australian forces if needed.
About Japan:
- Capital: Tokyo
- Currency: Japanese yen
- Prime minister: Yoshihide Suga
About Australia:
- Prime minister: Scott Morrison
- Capital: Canberra
- Currency: Australian dollar
CURRENT AFFAIRS: BANKING AND FINANCE
Equitas Small Finance Bank Launches ‘EVA’ – a Unique Savings Account aimed at Women
- Equitas Small Finance Bank has launched a new product aimed at women, ‘Eva’, a unique savings account tries to address the well-being of Indian women in every aspect such as Health, Wealth and Prosperity.
- Along with 7% interest in savings account, it also offers Free Health Check-up and unlimited teleconsultation with women doctors, gynecologists and mental health experts.
